Interested in Partnering for Chap Clark Seminar?
Calvin Presbyterian Church in Shoreline, WA would like to host a Chap Clark Seminar on Saturday, September 26, 2015.
Calvin proposes to host this seminar with your help through partnership and sponsorship of Presbyterian churches in the area. As a partner, your church’s staff will attend free of charge and your church’s name will be included on all promotion materials. The cost of the seminar is $3,500. This expense will be covered by ten Presbyterian churches partnering at $250 each, and approximately 75-80 paying registrants.
Our vision is to invite all churches and their staff and congregants, as well as publicizing broadly to schools, Younglife, parents and others who work with children and youth.
We are proposing the following fee schedule for non-sponsoring church staff and others:
$15 for church staff and pastors
$10 for parents
$20 for both seminar sessions
See seminar session details below.
Event Details
Join other parents, pastors, youth and children’s ministry staff as we explore what it means to take seriously the spiritual formation of children and adolescents. Chap Clark, Fuller Seminary Professor of Youth, Family, and Culture, and best-selling author, will provide training and tools to help us understand the adolescent experience, and faithfully journey with children and youth as they become followers of Jesus.
Two seminars will be offered:
10am – 12 noon: For clergy and church formation leaders to discern ways we can better minister to families and equip parents to walk with their children and adolescents on a journey of faith.
1pm – 3pm: For parents to learn more about the world of adolescents and discover ways to be more intentional about faith formation at home.
Karen Kirkman, Director of Family Ministries at Calvin Presbyterian Church would love to talk with you about this seminar with Chap Clark and answer any of your questions. Her e-mail is families@calvinpc.org, or call her at (206) 542-6181.
PC(USA) Leaders Issue Statement on Church Burnings
A hate-inspired tragedy like the murder of nine worshipers at the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, causes people of good conscience not only to grieve, but to reassess their attitudes about race, and moves people of all races to come together and take actions that reflect new commitments to heal long-standing wounds in the United States.
Equip Your Congregation to Mentor Vulnerable Youth of Color
The 4C Coalition Can Equip Your Congregation to Mentor Vulnerable Youth of Color in King County
In recent years, many churches have foregone the one-week mission trip to other parts of the US, or abroad, in favor of responding to significant issues of poverty, homelessness, abuse, and disenfranchisement right at home. Such a shift provides for long-term, life-changing relationships that can bring hope, justice, and healing to people who live in the same region, but who, in significant ways, live worlds apart.
The 4C Coalition is a local non-profit (the 4 C’s stand for: Clergy, Community, Children/Youth, Coalition) that has seen great success in turning around the lives of boys and girls aged 12-18 throughout King County. About a year ago, members of Mount Baker Park Presbyterian Church (MBPPC) began a partnership with the 4C Coalition. MBPPC is hosting 4C Mentor Trainings to build one-to-one mentoring relationships with vulnerable youth of color in King County. MBPPC is hosting these one-day trainings on Saturdays throughout the year. Along with hosting women and children from the Mary’s Place Shelter, MBPPC members who have completed the one-day training have been matched with youth from Seattle to Auburn, Issaquah to Vashon Island.
The 4C is supported by such agencies as King County Superior Court, City of Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, United Way of King County and the National CARES Mentoring Movement. The 4C has provided academic, social, positive peer relationships, increased school attendance, decreased suspensions, expulsions and truancy as well as provided material support to families struggling to give their children a good footing in transition from childhood to adulthood.
Why not get your congregation involved? It is easy to do, and the benefits to the people of King County are immeasurable.
Take a look at this video and consider getting started today. You can contact the 4C Coalition, Donald Cameron @ 206.972.3426 or by email at donc@the4ccoalition.org.
In addition, look for a table staffed by Don Cameron of the 4C Coalition /Seattle Cares as you arrive at the July 21 Presbytery meeting at Rainier Beach PC.
Sincerely,
Pastor Leland Seese
Mt. Baker Park Presbyterian Church
PC(USA) Stated Clerk issues statement on Supreme Court's action on marriage
The Reverend Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The 221st General Assembly (2014) and the presbyteries ratified the following definition of marriage:
Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community...
The Office of Constitutional Interpretation has prepared a helpful set of FAQs for pastors, sessions, and mid councils to use in response to the decision of the Supreme Court.
New Book of Order (2015-2017) Available
The new Book of Order (2015–2017) is now available for ordering. It incorporates seven constitutional amendments approved by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 221st General Assembly (2014) and a majority of the presbyteries.
SeaPres Office Parking in June
An important note about parking at the SeaPres office (1544 S. Snoqualmie St., Seattle, WA 98108) for the entire month of June: we do not have any regular, reserved parking spaces available this month. Street parking is also limited due to parking lot closures at the VA Hospital nearby.
Please call or email EJ Lee before visiting the office or to schedule appointments, as our office will be working remotely and off site this month. Seattle Presbytery/Synod parking spaces will be available to use again beginning July 1. Please do not park in spots marked Walsh Construction. Thank you for your cooperation.
CPE Program Available At VA Puget Sound
The CPE program is available again at VA Puget Sound after a two year hiatus.
We are trying to put together an extended unit for the fall fromSeptember 9, 2015 to January 8, 2016.
Contact:
Rev. Beverly K. Hartz, MA BCC
ACPE Supervisor
Chaplain Services
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
1660 S. Columbian Way
Seattle, WA 98108-1532
VA Puget Sound Health Care System is accredited for Level I and Level II by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., 1 West Court Square, Suite 325, Decatur, GA 30030, 404-320-1472, www.acpe.edu.
Scott's Sabbatical
An update from Scott Lumsden as he leaves for his sabbatical.
Brothers and Sisters of Seattle Presbytery,
It's hard to beat the spring we've been having. The sunshine and beauty of the Northwest just seems to explode with energy and possibilities this time of year.
It's also a time of transition as the program year winds down and summer schedules begin to take center stage. As a presbytery staff, this summer will be a bit of a transition as I will be on sabbatical leave from June 1 through August 16. You'll be in more than capable hands though, as Kevin, Eliana, and EJ will be present this summer to serve you.
My sabbatical will have equal parts rest and renewal with a three week National Parks family road trip thrown in there for fun. Yes the whole family will board the car toppered Prius on June 23 and head out to Yellowstone, Arches, Bryce, Zion, Grand Canyon, and all places in between. I pray your summer is filled with some rest and renewal time as well, and perhaps even a road trip.
Another transition you should know about has to do with our office. For the next two years, we will be sharing our presbytery office with Clark Construction. Clark Construction is building the new mental health hospital at the VA across the street from our office. They're a great group of people and we're enjoying the company in the office.
Shifting gears a bit, I do want to thank those of you who attended PresbyFest at UPC this past May 16. It was great to be together as a presbytery to pray, share and grow as the body of Christ.
To recap for those who didn't make it to the event, the day started with James Vaughn & Band leading us in a wonderful praise and prayer time. Our keynote speaker Mike Breenprovided a challenging talk and workshop on how to live more communally and missionally as the church. Tali Hairston (SPU) led two powerful and well attended workshops on Racism, Lament and Reconciliation. Dr. Jeanette Rodriguez (Seattle University) gave a succinct and challenging introduction to Latino culture and Liberation theology. Rev. James B Notkin (Union/UPC) and Rev. Caz Minter (1001 New Worshipping Communities), shared their work in creating new expressions of church through entrepreneurial ventures. And Bev Shrumm (Samaritan Center of Puget Sound) led a discussion on healthy boundaries in life and ministry. I look forward to keeping these conversations going as a presbytery in the upcoming program year. Thanks again to all who took the time to attend.
Last, I want to introduce to you the work of one of our pastors who is doing his dissertation on coaching in ministry. He is looking for pastors who have used the services of a coach to give their input for his research. Please contact Rev. Jeff Gephart for more info.
Have a blessed summer. Yours in Christ,
Scott Lumsden
Executive Presbyter
Coaching Study Needs Your Help!
Coaching Research Needs Your Help!
Hello, my name is Jeff Gephart. I'm an ordained teaching elder of 16 years and currently at large in Seattle Presbytery and finishing a doctorate at Seattle University. I have a desire to help pastoral leaders sustain themselves in ministry over the long haul.
To that end I'm conducting a study of the coaching of clergy as part of my dissertation. If you wish, you can read a more thorough introduction here and also read the consent form .
Would you consider participating? Qualified participants must be currently serving a congregation and have used a coach at some point in the last few years. If you are willing to share your perspective on your coaching experience email me today at gephartj@seattleu.edu with your name and your email and I will send you the link to the online survey. Your name and email will only be used for the purposes of this study and kept confidential. Thanks!
Regards,
Rev. Jeff Gephart, M.Div.
Ed.D. Candidate, Seattle University
2015 VBS Collaboration Poll
Is your church planning a VBS for the summer? If you're interested in sharing costs and/or collaborating, please click the button below and add your information. Thanks!
Nepal Earthquake Disaster Assistance
“And after the earthquake….the sound of sheer silence, and a Voice said: ‘what are you doing here?”
Situation
Thousands are dead or injured from the massive earthquake and aftershocks that shook Nepal and neighboring countries on April 25th. The quake, the worst in more than 80 years, struck just west of the capital of Kathmandu and destroyed towns and mountainous villages. The government of Nepal has officially requested international assistance and declared a state of emergency.
PDA Response
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance's (PDA) is providing emergency aid through our partnership with ACT Alliance. Members of ACT Alliance which have been working in Nepal for several years are on the ground and already working to assist many who have survived the quake, by distributing immediate life-saving supplies such as water, food, shelter and medication.
Give: Financial support for relief efforts can be designated to DR999999 with reference to Nepal. Gifts can be made online, by phone weekdays between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (EST), or checks can be mailed to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburg, PA 15264-3700.
Act: Learn how your congregation can help families who have lost everything in the devastation. Stay informed and like us on Facebook, download resources and share updates with your congregation.
Pray: Pray for those who suffered loss of family or those who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, humanitarian aid, and spiritual and psychological support.
For more information, visit www.pcusa.org/pda.
Confession of Belhar approved by presbyteries
Office of the General Assembly
Louisville
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has voted through its presbyteries to add the Confession of Belhar to The Book of Confessions. The final step will be a vote at the 222nd General Assembly (2016) meeting June 18–25 in Portland, Oregon. View a video message from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, which also is available in Spanish:[Español] andKorean[한국어]. Share those videos, as well as other Belhar resources available at pcusa.org/belhar.
Welcome City of Glory Fellowship!
Excerpt From April 21 EP Report:
As you may know, we’ve been seeking to plant new churches again as a presbytery. The first step in that process is to discern and support those new things God is leading us to explore. Over the past year, God has led us to partner with a number of new worshipping communities, and now through the faithful work of Catalyzing Missional Communities, we welcome City of Glory, an east-African worshipping community. City of Glory worships at and is a ministry partner with Steel Lake Presbyterian Church in Federal Way. Let’s pray for Rev. Lauden Kangele as he leads this new church plant. Rev. Kangele will be the second pastor from the Presbytery of East Africa to join our presbytery.
Free Double Doors & Pews Available
A church in Everett undergoing renovations is giving away two sets of double doors (6' wide, 7' high, each set) and pews (20' long - a dozen of them) and a set (15' long - 1/2 dozen of them). Pick-up needs to happen by the weekend of 4/18-19. Contact Gary at 206-571-3402.
CRE Program Summer Courses
The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that we will be offering three summer courses for Commissioned Ruling Elders (CLP/CRE), scheduled from June 1 to August 23, 2015. We would appreciate it if you would pass on this information to those who might be interested and/or advertise it in your newsletter or other publications.
- Introduction to New Testament – Dr. Annette Huizenga
- Presbyterian Polity – Dr. Scott Nesbitt
- Reformed Theology – Dr. Gary Eller
As always, current students can register by going online at http://udtslearning.net/mod/page/view.php?id=15076 or by contacting Carla Gibbons, Distance Education Coordinator (CGibbons@dbq.edu or call 563-589-3630 / 1-888-207-8218), to pay by credit card or check. The tuition rate is $380.00 per course.
New students can apply to our lay ministry program by going to http://udtslearning.net/ and then click on "CLP Registration Information" for application and course information.
Finally, we encourage you to regularly check our continuing education website (http://udts.dbq.edu/edu.cfm) for upcoming events.
Godly Play Curriculum Materials Available
Rose Hill Presbyterian Church has the teaching tools and wall hangings for the Godly Play curriculum. We are no longer using Godly Play. Is there a church in the Presbytery that would like to have them? If you are interested contact Gwen North 425-827-4649 or gwen@rosehillpc.org.
A Pastoral Response to the Marriage Amendment
March 20, 2015
Brothers and Sisters of Seattle Presbytery,
I'm sure you have read by now that the PCUSA is predicting that the marriage amendment will be approved and become part of our Book of Order this June. It's hard to find another topic that causes so many mixed emotions among us as Presbyterians.
These words from Romans come to mind as we head into what is next for us in Seattle Presbytery: "Love must be genuine. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another." (12:9-16)
This is Paul at his missional, called to be Christ-in-community best. It may be hard to embrace at this moment, but I've seen our presbytery live this authentically and honestly--and I trust we will continue to do so. My prayer is that we live ever more deeply into what this means for us and this world as we seek to witness to the One who gave his life out of his immeasurable love for our world.
I'm grateful for our Stated Clerk, Rev. Karen Breckenridge, who supports all of us by providing more details below.
In Christ,
Rev. Scott Lumsden
Executive Presbyter
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
By now you’ve probably seen reports of the passage of amendment 14F that makes changes to the section on marriage in the Directory for Worship of the Book of Order. The effect of the action is to allow broader discretion to teaching elders and sessions in the weddings they will conduct and host. In states such as ours, this discretion could include same gender marriages. As stated in the amendment itself, this change to the Book of Order cannot be used to compel a teaching elder to perform a marriage service nor can it be used to compel a session to authorize the use of church property for a marriage service that is contrary to their discernment of the Holy Spirit and their understanding of the Word of God.
The Office of the General Assembly has a variety of resources to help us understand and interpret the action that has been taken. Among the available resources are:
• an advisory opinion that answers several questions about the change
• a letter from the General Assembly Moderator and Vice-moderator
• a statement from the General Assembly Stated Clerk
Please visit pcusa.org/marriage to view these and other resources.
Many Presbyterians are experiencing strong feelings about the changes that are happening in our denomination – from joy to sorrow, from grief to celebration. Please join me in continuing to pray for our communities of faith and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to be faithful to Christ’s call in our lives.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Karen Breckenridge
Stated Clerk
SeaPres Thailand & Cambodia Trip
Seattle Presbytery SEAM (Southeast Asia Ministry Team) traveled to Thailand and Cambodia on February 25, 2015 with 15 people, representing the following Presbyterian Churches: University, Seattle Community, Mercer Island, Inglewood, Wallingford, and Everett First.
Photos courtesy: Rev. Ken Sunoo.
SeaPres Colombia Mission Trip
Pictures from the SeaPres Colombia Mission Trip, by Rev. Eliana Maxim.